I’m Yuval Neria, Professor of Medical Psychology, and This is How I Work

I’m Yuval Neria, Professor of Medical Psychology at Columbia University, Departments of Psychiatry and Epidemiology, and Director of Trauma and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Program at the New York State Psychiatric Institute (NYSPI), in New York City. My program is focused on trauma and PTSD research. My work was deeply influenced by my war experiences, as I grew up in Israel and served in the military. I had the privilege to learn about the experience of trauma not only from my own experiences but even more from my patients as I initially worked as a clinician. Since graduating with a PhD in Psychology, I have led and collaborated on numerous epidemiological, clinical, and neuroimaging studies, aiming to learn about traumatic experiences and their consequences among prisoners of war, war veterans, and victims of terrorism and disasters. In the last five years, my lab is very focused on translational studies aiming to identify neural markers for trauma related psychopathology. By using multimodal Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and a number of novel tasks engaging the fear circuitry, my team has been able to identify brain and behavioral markers of trauma and PTSD, and to probe highly needed biomarkers of clinical improvement in response to PTSD treatments.

Location: New York City.Current Gig: Professor of Medical Psychology at Columbia University, Departments of Psychiatry and Epidemiology, and Director of Trauma and PTSD Program at the New York State Psychiatric Institute (NYSPI).One word/phrase that describes your work style: Engaged.Current computer/mobile device: iMac; MacBook Air; iPhone.

What apps/tools/software can you not live without?

Office; SPSS; email, calendars, Dropbox.

What’s your best time-saving shortcut or life hack?

Multitasking and fast response.

What’s your workspace set up like?

My office is pretty neat, and full of light. I have a view of the Hudson river.

How do you keep track of things you need to do (any to-do-list apps)?

I have an ever-changing todo list in my Dropbox.

Besides your phone or computer, what gadget can’t you live without, and why?

I don’t need much else for work. I need my bikes and pool for workouts.

What everyday thing can you do better than most people? What’s your secret?